Telegraph-key



v (No Model.) I

J. M. BIGGS.

TELEGRAPH KEY. No. 351,485. Patented Oct. 26. 1886.

INVENTOR l A TTORNEYS.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATE T FFICEO JOHN MARIONBIGGS, OFLOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

TELEGRAPH-KEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,485, dated October 26, 1886. Application filed May 10, 1886. Serial No. 201,708. (No model.)

To a, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN MARION BIGGS, of Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Telegraph-Keys, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forminga part thereof, in which? Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide a telegraph-key in which a slight movement of the fingers will produce a greater movement in the contact-point of the key, thereby insuring greater certainty and rapidity in writing and diminishing the movement of the hand required for operating the key.

My invention consists of a key having short and long arms, the short arm being provided with a finger-piece, the longer arm carrying a contact-point, and in the combination, with the key arranged in this manner, of a switch and conductor for conveying the current froni the switch to the stationary contact-point of the key.

The base A, whichsupports all of the parts of the key, is recessed on its under surface and supports the standards -]3 for receiving the screws 0, in the inner ends of which are journaled the trunnions D of the key E. The key. E is a two-armed lever, with a short arm, a, projecting beyond the end of the base A and provided with the usual finger-piece, I), the long arm a projecting in the opposite direction from the trunnions, and carrying the contactpoint d. The long arm of the key is provided with an adjusting screw, F, which passes downwardthrough the key and touches the base A when the key makes the back stroke. The adjusting-screw F is prevented from becoming accidentally loosened by the jam-nut 6.

Between the trunnions D and the fingerpiece b the adjusting-screw f is received in the short arm a, and is bored axially to receive one end of the spiral spring 9, the opposite end of which extends into a cavity in the base A.

The screw f is prevented from accidental loosening by the jam-nut h.

Above the contact-point d is supported a contact-point, d, by the right-angled arm G, which is formed integrally with the screwthreaded stud H, the arm G and stud H being insulated from the base A by the collar 2' and In the opposite by the insulating-washer j. end of the baseis secured a stud, I, which is insulated from the base by the rubber collar k. The stud I supports the circuit-closin g contact Z, and is connected electrically with the stud H and arm G by the-bar m, which is secured in place by riveting the stud I and shoulder of the stud H- down upon the bar. The bar at is separated from the base by insulation, and is enlarged and apertured at a point below the trunnions D, to allow the binding-stud J to project from the under surface of the base.

To the base A is pivoted a circuit-closing switch, K, provided with a handle, a, of insulating material, which reaches upwardabove the end of the top of the finger-piece b, within convenient reach of the finger of the operator. The circuit-closer K is received under the contact Z when it is desired to close the circuit.

The

studs H J are provided with wing-nuts 0, by

means of which the keyis clamped to the table.

It will be seen that by making the arm a of the key-lever short and the arm along that the movement of the hand required to operate the key will be very much reduced, and'the contact between the contact-points d and d may be more rapidly and certainly made. The key-lever may be made lighter, thus requiring less spring-power to move it after being operated by the fingers. This construction also reduces the wear upon the trunnions orpivots of the key. It secures awide separation of the contact-points, thus avoiding sparking at the contact-points and consequent adhesion of the point-s.

Having thus described my inveution,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a telegraph-key, the base A, having its under surface recessed to receive the bar at, combined with the arm G, having a contactpoint key-lever, the stud I, bar m, connecting stud-I and arm G, and the circuit-closer,-substantially as set forth.

2. In atelegraph-key, the combination of the key-lever E, provided with the long arm 0 and the short arm a, the adj usting-screw 13, inserted in the longer arm, the adjusting-screw f, in-

serted in the shorter arm, the spring placed between the adjusting-screw f and the base,

the base A, the arm G, having threaded stud 5 H and secured to the base, but insulated therefrom, the contact-points (1 d carried by the arm and the key-lever, the stud I, connected electrically with the arm G, insulated from the base A and supporting the cireuitclosiug cou- IO tact-point Z, and the circuit closing key K,

pivoted to the base A and adapted to engage the circuit-closing contaet-point Z, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. The combination of the base A, the key- [5 lever pivotally supported thereon, the arm G,

having threaded stud II and provided with a contact point, and secured to but insulated from the base, substantially as set forth.

4-. In a telegraph-key, the combination of the base, the key-lever, the arm G, provided with 20 a contact-point and having a threaded stud, H, the stud I, having a contact, the bar m, conmeeting the studs H and I, and the circuit-closing switch pivoted to the base andmovable into contact with the stud I, substantially as 25 set forth.

J OHN MARION BIGGS.

W i tnessos J. SPEED PEAY, E. M. FREER. 

